To ask how the feck people do bedtime with a young baby & toddler?!

[BobbysBeardOfWonder]

It's either the baby or the toddler crying one way or the other

Somehow my 2.5 yo DD suddenly can't play with her toys for 5 minutes while I feed the 7mo and put him to bed. It's like I've just abandoned her to a pack of wolves, the way she was carrying on.

I used to let her use the iPad for these 5 mins but she became a bit addicted so had to completely stop that.

I regularly do this solo due to DH working late/away and I do toddler first. Everything is laid out then they both get in bath together - toddler out first then has a milk drink while I finish bathing baby. Baby then wrapped up warm in towel and put on floor while toddler dressed and teeth done - she then chooses a story while I speed dress baby then do story with both on bed then say night night to toddler before feeding and settling baby. Bloody exhausting but seeing results now 12 weeks in and it is getting easier

Absolutely toddler first. My bf babies could still be having a 30 minute last feed at that age, my toddler and preschooler couldn't wait that long without getting hyped up again.

All in bath together (bath every other night) baby out first, dried and dressed in bathroom. Siblings out, dried and teeth done then into their room for pjs, stories and prayers. Baby sucking on my finger if need be. Siblings into bed, into nursery with baby, feed and into cot. Deep sigh and glass of wine

Only thing is that it takes careful timing, at 7 months they can wait 10 minutes for a feed, things were more tense when youngest is a newborn. Have done bedtime stories sitting crossed legged on the floor and bfeeding...

Best of luck!

I have a 5 yo and 18 month. Tonight I had to wash DD1's VERY curly hair. SHe's been wearing it loose for over 2 weeks now. Almost at dreadlocks stage - involves lashings of conditioner, painstaking combing knots out - takes forever. DD1 is in a "tender" mood. She is wailing, gnashing teeth and being altogether very loud.

then DD2 bless her joins in - DD2 is the worlds loudest complainer/crier. She wanted cuddles and to get out of bath, but I had to keep going with DD1's hair. SO they were BOTH wailing, complaining VERY loudly.

I did not lose my temper (extremely pleased with myself). I started singing and talking and reassuring DD2 verbally (to no effect), and getting those fecking knots out!!

It all ended in lots of cuddles and kisses for us all.

Thank goodness it's back to school and that hair can stay in plaits where is get's a lot less knotted over the week.

I found DD could understand and if she wasn't going though a overtired or clingy phase, was happy to play if I talked it though before hand. What also works is not having her in her PJs and explain I just need her to play quietly until baby is asleep. Then I will come for her and we'll have story/cuddle/play time together. Done first during naps so she understood I would def. come and get her. Leave lights on etc.

tbh what works changed every 2 months anyway. DD who doesn't normally need help going to sleep has developed a imagination that includes scary monsters so now needs a lot of input. She was 'playing up' before we realised this was what the issue was.